Town News Briefing

PLAINVILLE -- State Archaeologist Nicholas Bellantoni will present a talk called ``Old Cemeteries and Other Digs Through Nick's Eyes'' Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Plainville Historic Center.

A $2 donation will be accepted.

Bellantoni, on call throughout the state, is summoned when excavations for buildings unearth artifacts. Watercourses can also reveal unexpected treasures.

For more information call 860-747-6577.

NEW BRITAIN

WinterFest To Include

Several Raffles

NEW BRITAIN -- The parks and recreation department has several sponsors for WinterFest 2004, which will be held Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stanley Quarter Park.

Starbuck's Coffee, a new sponsor, will distribute free coffee for all in attendance and will raffle off gift baskets worth up to $75 each that include their coffee, mugs and desserts. Sam's Club of Berlin will raffle off gift cards valued at more than $100 and redeemable at all Sam's Clubs and Wal-Marts. Also, Dick's Sporting Goods Stores will raffle off gift cards valued up to $100.

For more information, call the Recreation Hotline at 860-826-3360.

SOUTHINGTON

Adult Education

Courses Available

SOUTHINGTON -- The spring semester of the Southington Adult Education program is underway.

Applications for enrollment are still being accepted in many of the classes.

State-mandated courses are free to interested students and consist of classes for those wishing to work toward an equivalency diploma in English, social studies, math and science. Adult basic education courses also are offered in math and English. There also are several enrichment courses still open.

For more information call the Southington Adult Education office Monday through Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 860-628-3229, Ext. 333.

SOUTHINGTON

Scholar To Speak

About Autobiography

SOUTHINGTON -- Jeffrey Wiggins will be on the Briarwood College campus as a visiting scholar/author on Tuesday.

Wiggins will visit various classrooms, have lunch with student leaders and administrators, and make a general presentation to the campus community. The topic of his presentation will be his latest book, ``Another Generation Almost Forgotten,'' which is an autobiography.

The public is invited to the presentation, which starts at 3 p.m. at Founders Hall on the campus of Briarwood College, 2279 Mt. Vernon Road.

Wiggins has authored two other books: ``The Morning Tide Rises,'' a novel, and ``White Cross, Black Crucifixion,'' a book that relates his experiences at Upsala College where he recruited minority students into an all-white school.

Wiggins received an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, at Briarwood College's 32nd graduation in 1999.

NEW BRITAIN

Man Charged With

Hitting Two Women

NEW BRITAIN -- A 39-year-old city man turned himself in to police Thursday on charges he punched his ex-girlfriend, whom he was barred from contacting, and his ex-girlfriend's mother last month.

Richard Vitale, of 511 High St., was prohibited by court order from having contact with his 27-year-old ex-girlfriend. During a fight at her home, he punched the woman and her 56-year-old mother, causing the mother to fall on top of a 4-year-old girl, Sgt. Darren Pearson said.

He was charged with risk of injury to a minor, two counts of third-degree assault, violation of a protective order, disorderly conduct and first-degree criminal mischief.

Vitale also banged his car into his ex-girlfriend's car when he was leaving the home after the fight, police said.

Vitale originally was ordered held with bail set at $100,000.

In December, police were present at his ex-girlfriend's home when he phoned her, despite a protective order that prohibited him from doing so.

He also was charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with an officer by New Britain police in December.

NEW BRITAIN

Man Arrested

On Sex Charges

NEW BRITAIN -- A 19-year-old city man was arrested Thursday on charges he had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

The Department of Children and Families notified police of the relationship after Ezequiel Mercado, of 211 Fairview St., impregnated the girl, Sgt. Darren Pearson said.

Mercado faces charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

HARTFORD

Hotel Union Wins

Pay, Health Benefits

Unionized employees of the Hartford Hilton, which closed last month for extensive renovations, will receive severance payments and health benefits during the hotel's closure, according to a deal agreed to this week between the hotel workers' union and Interstate Hotels & Resort, the Hilton's management company.

Hilton employees will receive a monetary severance payment, based on the years of service they have with the hotel. The least senior workers will receive a severance payment of $1,100 and the most senior workers will receive $4,600.

All employees will be paid for the sick days and vacation time they accrued when the hotel closed, according to a press release issued by the hotel union, Local 217 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union.

Employees also will receive health benefits through July 2004.

The Waterford Group, the Hilton's new owner, has agreed to rehire the union employees under their present wage and benefit package when the hotel reopens after renovations.